Orlando custom home builders

Roofing Materials

The roof on a house contributes a lot to the look of a house in addition to keeping the interior dry. The choices of roofing materials range from asphalt shingles to wood shakes and clay tiles. Other options include steel panels and rubber lookalike slate.

Recently, there has been a trend towards using engineered roofing materials. This is due to a variety of reasons including the high cost of wood, many building codes mandating the use of fireproof roofing materials, and people wanting attractive, long-lasting roofs.

Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material. They are seen on the vast majority of houses in the United States. This is because they are also one of the least expensive roofing options. They are available in a dozen or so colors, some blended and some plain. The current asphalt shingled roofs are generally guaranteed for twenty, sometimes even thirty, years. These roofs, while they may be inexpensive, are also very common. Their commonness is seen as being their one drawback.

Ceramic tiles are popular in the Mediterranean and Levant areas. In addition, they are popular in the Mediterranean-Revival influenced architecture of Florida and California. Tile roofs are typically composed of barrel tiles. These are tiles that resemble half cylinders that are roughly 16” long. Tile roofs are extremely heavy and also quite expensive. They cost roughly three times as much as an asphalt shingle roof. Despite this, they are typically a good buy. It is possible to get sixty or eighty years of use out of a well-done tile roof.

For more information concerning roofing materials and options, contact the Orlando custom home builders of BRC Homes at 352-383-1948.